Canada: Inuit Games and Songs

From 1974 to 1976, researchers traveled to Arctic villages in Northeastern Canada to record the verbal games and songs of the Inuit people. One example, called katajjait, involves two women standing face to face, producing guttural, animal-like repetitions until someone runs out of breath and concedes in laughter. The lone instrumental track features a Jew’s harp and the tautirut (a violin-like instrument). As stated in the liner notes, this recording preserves the verbal game traditions of the Inuit and has stimulated a renewed interest in Inuit traditional culture.This recording was supported by grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Quebec Ministry of Education, and the University Montreal.

Track Listing

101	Three Katajjait from Baffin Land	Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Napache Samaejuk Pootoogook, Napache Etidloie Toonoo	02:09
102	Illukitaaruti (Juggling Song) from Baffin Land	Aggeok Pitseolak	01:30
103	Katajjaq from Hudson Bay (1)	Laati Ajagutainaq, Soria Eyituk	01:08
104	Two Katajjaq: Baffin Land / Ungava Bay	Temegeak Pitaulassie, Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Maggie Grey, Jessie Tamassie	01:20
105	About Animals: Aqausiq (Ungava Bay) / Song Accompanying a String Game (Baffin Land)	Aggeok Pitseolak, Tumassie Kudluk	00:50
106	Katajjait on “Hamma” and Its Variants: Baffin Land / Hudson Bay / Baffin Land	Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Temegeak Pitaulassie, Napache Samaejuk Pootoogook, Marie Apaqaq, Soria Eyituk	01:37
107	Katajjait on "Ulu-haa-hamma": Ungava Bay / Baffin Land	Alla Braun, Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Temegeak Pitaulassie, Napache Etidloie Toonoo, Maggie Grey, Jessie Tamassie	01:37
108	Aqausiq from Baffin Land	Aggeok Pitseolak	00:55
109	Extracts from Thirteen Katajjait (Hudson Bay)	Laati Ajagutainaq, Marie Apaqaq, Nelli Apaqaq, Soria Eyituk, Lusi Kuni, Mari Kuki, Luli Nuvalinga, Aemili Takatak, Sillatik Miiku, Aalusi Mikiyuk	06:29
110	Two Pisiit from Ungava Bay	Tumassie Kudluk	01:27
111	Imitation of the Cries of Geese (Baffin Land) / Katajjait with Geese Cries: Hudson Bay / Baffin Land / Hudson Bay / Baffin Land / Baffin Land	Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Napache Editloie Toonoo, Temegeak Pitaulassie, Napache Samaejuk Pootoogook, Mary Qarjjurarjuk, Marie Apaqaq, Nelli Apaqaq, Soria Eyituk, Aemili Takatak	02:55
112	Katajjaq from Hudson Bay (2)	Soria Eyituk, Lusi Kuni	02:09
113	Assalalaa from Baffin Land	Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Temegeak Pitaulassie	00:46
114	Melodic Katajjait: Baffin Land / Hudson Bay / Aqausiq and Katajjait of Annahatak (Ungava Bay) / Aqausiq and Katajjait of Surpaluk (Ungava Bay)	Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Napache Etidloie Toonoo, Amilie Airo, Annie Annahatak, Maggie Grey, Jessie Tomassie, Soria Eyituk	03:15
115	Brief Sung Narratives from Baffin Land	Pitseolak Ashoona	01:53
116	Five Katajjait on "Hapapa" from Baffin Land	Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Temegeak Pitaulassie, Napache Etidloie Toonoo	01:41
117	Shaman Song (Ungava Bay)	Zachariasi Tarkiapik	02:27
118	Katajjait Sung by a Solo Voice: Hudson Bay / Hudson Bay / Baffin Land	Temegeak Pitaulassie, Nelli Apaqaq	01:51
119	Two Aqausiit from Ungava Bay	Jessie Grey	01:28
120	Three Katajjait from Ungava Bay	Maggie Grey, Jessie Tomassie	02:40
121	Instrumental Pieces from Ungava Bay: Qanirvaluutik (Jew's Harp) / "Now Go and Clean the Seal Skin” for Violin (Tautirut)	Sarah Airo	02:04
122	Two Melodic Katajjait from Hudson Bay	Soria Eyituk, Mari Kuki, Luli Nuvalinga, Aemili Takatak	02:47